A new nine-month term begins for the US Supreme Court on Monday with major cases that will shape many aspects of American life. The court’s nine justices are back after last year’s blockbuster term, which saw rulings that protected a widely used abortion pill or granting former President Donald Trump partial immunity from prosecution.
The court’s nine justices are back after last year’s blockbuster term, which saw rulings that protected a widely used abortion pill or granting former President Donald Trump partial immunity from prosecution.
The coming months may bring legal disputes over the looming presidential elections, potentially consequential in what should be a closely-fought contest. With its six-three conservative majority intact, its rulings may fuel further scepticism among the American public whose approval for its work is now at 43%, according to Gallup, a near-record low. With a new year ahead, here’s a look at some of the major cases on its docket.
As the US Supreme Court begins its new term, several high-profile cases are set to shape the legal landscape on hot-button issues, including gun control and transgender healthcare. Two of the most closely watched cases involve so-called “ghost guns” and access to gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, both of which carry significant social and legal implications.
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Transgender care in Tennessee
Perhaps the most high-profile case of the term will be US v Skrmetti, where the justices will hear the Biden administration’s challenge to a Republican-backed ban on gender care for minors.
The Tennessee ban, which took effect in July 2023, prohibits certain treatments for minors experiencing gender dysphoria, including the prescription of any puberty blockers or hormones, if the treatment is meant to “enable a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex” or treat “purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor’s sex and asserted identity”.
Ghost Guns Case
One case before the court deals with the legality of “ghost guns,” which are untraceable firearms assembled from kits or 3D-printed parts. These guns have become increasingly popular because they bypass traditional gun control laws, such as background checks and serial number requirements, making them virtually invisible to law enforcement.
At issue is whether the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has the authority to regulate these homemade firearms under existing gun control legislation. The Biden administration argues that ghost guns should be subject to the same regulations as fully manufactured firearms, citing public safety concerns over the rise in crimes involving these untraceable weapons.
Opponents, including gun rights groups, claim that regulating ghost guns violates the Second Amendment by restricting individuals’ rights to build their own firearms. The Supreme Court’s decision could either expand or limit the government’s ability to regulate this growing threat in gun violence.
Transgender Healthcare Case
Another major case concerns the legality of state laws that restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors. Several states have passed laws that ban or limit treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth, arguing that such interventions are experimental and potentially harmful.
Families of transgender children, along with LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, have challenged these laws, claiming they violate constitutional rights to equal protection and medical privacy. They argue that gender-affirming care is recognized by major medical associations as essential healthcare for transgender individuals and that denying this care leads to severe mental health consequences for trans youth.
The Supreme Court’s decision in this case could have wide-reaching consequences, potentially affirming or striking down the state-level bans and setting a national precedent on transgender healthcare rights.
Broader Implications
Both cases are part of a larger docket that highlights the court’s role in determining the balance between individual rights and government regulation. The ghost guns case could reshape how gun control laws are interpreted in the digital age, while the transgender care case touches on critical issues of healthcare access, personal autonomy, and civil rights for LGBTQ+ individuals.
As the country watches these cases unfold, the Supreme Court’s rulings will likely have profound effects on public policy, legal standards, and the everyday lives of millions of Americans.
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